22 Mar Keep your piglets hydrated at all times!
Oral rehydration fastens recovery and cuts down mortality in challenged piglets
Being properly hydrated is crucial for the metabolism of all living organisms.
Likewise, nursery piglets need to stay hydrated at all moments in order to grow fast and stay healthy. However, as their metabolic rate is very fast and their body weight is low, they easily become dehydrated.
On average, the body of a nursery piglet contains a 50% of water. In very young and lean piglets, water can be up to 70%.
SIGNS OF DEHYDRATION
Pigs with dehydration can be easily identified by the following signs:
- The piglet is thin and bony.
- The animal urinates and defecates less than normal.
- Very dry nose.
- Sunken eyes.
- Rough hair coat.
- Pinch a fold of skin: If the fold remains elevated for more than a few seconds, the pig is dehydrated.
- In severe cases, the animal cannot stand.
MAIN CAUSES OF DEHYDRATION IN THE NURSERY
- Viral and bacterial scours are the main causes of dehydration during nursery period, especially when if they are accompanied by vomiting.
- Stress by weaning is the second most important cause of dehydration. Immediately after weaning both water and feed intake are low. While water intake recovers quickly, feed consumption takes longer to get back to normal. During the period of low water intake, if the piglets face an outbreak diarrhea, dehydration appears easily.
- Even if the negative effects of heat stress are more pronounced in heavier pigs (sows, growers and finishers), weaned pigs can also be affected. When the pig is heat stressed, it drinks up to six folds more than normal, but it also produces a high amount of urine and its feed consumption is reduced. Diarrhea often appears. There is a big loss of electrolytes through urine and feces, which can lead to dehydration.
THE PRINCIPLES OF ORAL REHYDRATION
During digestion, water and sodium are secreted into the upper part of the small intestine, to help digestion of feed. Nearly all of this secretion is later reabsorbed in the lower part of the intestines in order to keep the sodium levels in the body constant.
When diarrhea occurs, the sodium-rich intestinal secretions are lost before they can be reabsorbed, leading to electrolyte imbalance and dehydration.
The physiological basis of oral rehydration therapy is that sodium needs glucose to be absorbed into blood. Without glucose, the products based on electrolytes cannot be used by the animal to fight dehydration.
Therefore, best oral rehydration solutions contain glucose, electrolytes, an agent to promote electrolyte uptake in the intestine and an alkalinizing compound to compensate the acidosis that often accompanies diarrhea. A good product should also have an osmolality similar to, or less than that of plasma.
SPEEDING UP RECOVERY WITH ORAL REHYDRATION
Products for oral rehydration are very useful in cases of mild and moderate dehydration caused by diarrhea, weaning or heat stress, helping to speed up recovery and to reduce mortality. They should be given until pigs no longer show symptoms of the disease.
In severe cases, oral dehydration might not be enough and needs to be combined with other rehydration routes, that are often impractical in the farm (intraperitoneal injection; by stomach tube; rectal administration – on the condition that there is no diarrhea).
Products of choice
ActiPlus© is a liquid emulsion that contains:
- Essential oils with antioxidant, immunostimulant and microbiocide, which have a positive action on the digestive system.
- Plant extracts with prebiotic effect
- Electrolytes to maintain hydration
- Fast absorbing sugars as an energy source
- Vitamin E, essential for young mammals
It is intended for young mammals such as piglets, calves, lambs and kids during the lactation period, and is administered directly into the mouth of the animal.
SupraPlus© is intended to maintain and improve digestive health and to improve hydration in poultry, ruminants and swine of all ages. It is given through drinking water and is formulated with synergistic ingredients:
- Bactericidal and fungicidal plant extracts, combined with organic acids for better effectiveness, that reduce the number of pathogenic microbes in the digestive system.
- Plant extracts with prebiotic effect, that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the digestive system.
- Electrolytes to maintain hydration
- Sugars that are quickly absorbed and can be easily used as a energy source
- Vitamin E
It is especially useful during the first week of life, to promote a healthy development of the digestive system and improve hydration; in case of digestive diseases, to improve gut health and restore the levels of electrolytes; in episodes of heat stress, to prevent digestive problems, restore the levels of electrolytes and fight with the body oxidation caused by free radicals.
Certain health statements may not be applicable in your region.